Airing this month on MTV screens is a new documentary show called ‘Stay Alive’. It will be hosted by Travis McCoy, the front man of Gym Class Heroes and Ambassador to the ‘Staying Alive Foundation’.
‘Staying Alive’ was launched in 1998 and the foundation has become the world’s largest, youth focused, HIV and AIDS prevention campaign. The beliefs and values of the foundation are used to spread its awareness to today’s global youth. It is important that they are informed and empowered. The foundation has now reached the Philippines as ‘Staying Alive’, who have been recently funded by an independent organisation called BALUTI (’Protect the Child from Infection’), The volunteers of BALUTI dedicate their time to tour Manila and educate others about HIV/AIDS.
Making a Difference.
Travis McCoy an Ambassador with a cause gave the viewers an insight into the problems of HIV and AIDS, especially in the forgotten areas in Manila with extreme poverty-stricken families. Travis visited a school in Paranaque to see the lessons provided from BALUTI, emphasizing the importance of sexual education.
Part of his trip also included a visit to Kaybuboy Bridge and a graveyard where locals regarded this area as their home. Travis recalled what he saw and encountered.
“We made our way down a muddy, heavily littered slope - a slope that led us to the 4 foot tall entrance of the bridge. We had to squat to even get inside. Once inside it was pitch black - only our senses could guide us… mud squelched under foot and the thick sweaty air filled our lungs.
The first thing I saw was a tiny baby hanging in a net suspended from a metal strut. This was this baby’s home. No regular milk or food supply, no electricity, no clean running water. I couldn’t help but think that this baby was going to grow up here - in these squalid conditions. I thought about all the babies born back home and their luxurious surroundings. It seems so unfair.”
BALUTI are reaching out and helping affected areas, but with needed extra funding and more assistance, it will take a number of years until people are fully aware of the complications and the importance of educating the public about AIDS/HIV.
To see more information about ‘Stay Alive Foundation’ and ‘BALUTI’ please visit the following:
http://www.staying-alive.org/en
http://www.theunbeatentrack.com
Please check your country listings for scheduled airing on MTV.
Posted on 12 December 2009 by Heather in Charity, Entertainment, Relief Aid, Voluntary
Tagged AIDS, BALUTI, HIV, mtv, philippines, poverty, stay alive foundation, travis mccoy
Recent Comments